SHANGHAI, March 1 (Reuters) - China stocks recouped earlier losses to end higher on Thursday, after a private survey showed the country's factory growth rose to a six-month high in February.

Sentiment also got underpinned by expectations Beijing tends to maintain stability in the financial markets ahead of key political events, such as the upcoming National People's Congress and the Chinese Political Consultative Conference.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.4 percent at 3,273.75, while the blue-chip CSI300 index gained 0.6 percent to 4,049.09.

Growth in China's manufacturing sector unexpectedly picked up to a six-month high in February as factories rushed to replenish inventories to meet rising new orders, a private survey showed on Thursday.

"The stocks of finished products and stocks of purchases indices showed increases in the range that indicates economic expansion, reflecting that companies were making active preparations to start work in March," Zhengsheng Zhong, director of macroeconomic analysis at CEBM Group, said in a note accompanying the Caixin release.

There seemed to be scant market reaction after reports that China's CEFC China Energy chairman Ye Jianmin has been investigated by the authorities.

"Sentiment could be hit somewhat, though investors shall not over-interpret such news related to financial conglomerates including Anbang and CEFC, as the direct impact on the A-shares market could be very limited," said Yan Kaiwen, an analyst with China Fortune Securities.

In case of Anbang, the takeover does not necessarily mean Anbang will have to dump stakes in listed firms, Yan added.

Shares in CEFC Anhui International Holding slumped as much as 10 percent to their lowest since September 2014 before ending down 4.5 percent, after the CEFC reports.

Otherwise, there were no signs of a selloff related to firms in which Anbang and HNA Group hold stakes.

Most sectors gained on Thursday, led by the defensive consumer and healthcare firms. (Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)